SIGN UP

Create an Inhabitat account

Sign up for weekly newsletter

I agree to receive emails from the site. I can withdraw my consent at any time by unsubscribing.

I agree to Inhabitat's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, and to the use of cookies described therein, and I also consent to the collection, storage, and processing of my data in the United States, where data protection laws may be different from those in my country.

A mega skatepark made from shipping containers is changing lives in Afghanistan. Skateistan is an international NGO that uses skateboarding as a tool for youth outreach in both Afghanistan and Cambodia. Most recently they opened a new skating complex in Mazar-e-Sharif that serves as an educational safe haven for local children. The complex is designed for long-term sustainability and it's made from repurposed shipping containers and other locally-sourced materials.

In 2007, Skateistan began working with children aged 5-17 in Kabul as a “sport through development” project. Skateboarding was the best option for the program because Afghanistan law prohibits girls from riding bicycles, but curiously enough, they are permitted to ride skateboards. Although the organization works with local boys and girls, they do put a special focus on providing opportunities for Afghan girls and working children. In fact, out of the 400 children that visit the complex on a weekly basis, almost 50 percent are girls. According to Skateistan, “The students themselves decide what they want to learn – we connect them with a safe space and opportunities for them to develop the skills that they consider important.”

Although this is the organization’s second project in Afghanistan, it is certainly their most ambitious community endeavor. Constructed in collaboration with a local company and a few sponsors, the 6,000 square meter sports and education complex, which has a capacity of up to 1,000 local children on a weekly basis, is a multifunctional facility with an enormous skate park, a multi-sport hall and a three-story educational center built out of locally-sourced shipping containers.

Although the educational center was built with a strong emphasis on the educational aspect of the program, with prayer rooms, workshops, social areas, dining halls and a library for the children, it is hard to ignore the star of the Skateistan program: the state-of-the art skatepark. The enormous building built in just five days was equipped with world class ramps designed and constructed by Andreas Schutzenberger, owner of Europe’s leading ramp building company, IOU Ramps.

The stark design makes the project particularly unique. What looks like a traditional military-style camp is actually an active community sports and education center. In Afghanistan and other places with high levels of poverty and social dislocation, ambitious projects like Skateistan Mazar-e-Sharif can reconfigure future educational programs for at-risk youth in addition to repurposing military style buildings for peaceful purposes that serve the local community.

RELATED ARTICLES

Slideshow

A mega skatepark made from shipping containers is changing lives in Afghanistan. Skateistan is an international NGO that uses skateboarding as a tool for youth outreach in both Afghanistan and Cambodia. Most recently they opened a new skating complex in Mazar-e-Sharif that serves as an educational safe haven for local children. The complex is designed for long-term sustainability and it's made from repurposed shipping containers and other locally-sourced materials.

Skateistan Mazar-e-Sharif (MeS) Facility

1 of 11

A mega skatepark made from shipping containers is changing lives in Afghanistan. Skateistan is an international NGO that uses skateboarding as a tool for youth outreach in both Afghanistan and Cambodia. Most recently they opened a new skating complex in Mazar-e-Sharif that serves as an educational safe haven for local children. The complex is designed for long-term sustainability and it's made from repurposed shipping containers and other locally-sourced materials.

The complex's stark design adds to, rather than detracts from, the uniqueness of the project. What looks like a traditional military-style camp is actually an active community sports and education center.

Skateistan Mazar-e-Sharif (MeS) Facility

2 of 11

The complex's stark design adds to, rather than detracts from, the uniqueness of the project. What looks like a traditional military-style camp is actually an active community sports and education center.

According to Skateistan, “The students themselves decide what they want to learn – we connect them with a safe space and opportunities for them to develop the skills that they consider important.”

Skateistan Mazar-e-Sharif (MeS) Facility

3 of 11

According to Skateistan, “The students themselves decide what they want to learn – we connect them with a safe space and opportunities for them to develop the skills that they consider important.”

Although the organization works with local boys and girls, they do put a special focus on providing opportunities for Afghan girls and working children.

Skateistan Mazar-e-Sharif (MeS) Facility

4 of 11

Although the organization works with local boys and girls, they do put a special focus on providing opportunities for Afghan girls and working children.

Skateistan Mazar-e-Sharif (MeS) Facility

5 of 11

Although this is the organization's second project in Afghanistan, it is certainly their most ambitious endeavor.

The enormous skate boarding building was built in just five days and was equipped with world-class ramps designed and constructed by Andreas Schutzenberger, owner of Europe’s leading ramp building company, IOU Ramps.

Skateistan Mazar-e-Sharif (MeS) Facility

6 of 11

The enormous skate boarding building was built in just five days and was equipped with world-class ramps designed and constructed by Andreas Schutzenberger, owner of Europe’s leading ramp building company, IOU Ramps.

The entire skatepark was constructed by Andreas Schutzenberger from IOU Ramps and volunteers in five days.

Skateistan Mazar-e-Sharif (MeS) Facility

7 of 11

The entire skatepark was constructed by Andreas Schutzenberger from IOU Ramps and volunteers in five days.

Constructed in collaboration with a local company and a few sponsors, the 6,000 square meter complex, which has a capacity of up to 1,000 local children on a weekly basis, is a multifunctional facility with an enormous skate park, a multi-sport hall and a three story educational center built out of locally-sourced shipping containers.

Skateistan Mazar-e-Sharif (MeS) Facility

8 of 11

Constructed in collaboration with a local company and a few sponsors, the 6,000 square meter complex, which has a capacity of up to 1,000 local children on a weekly basis, is a multifunctional facility with an enormous skate park, a multi-sport hall and a three story educational center built out of locally-sourced shipping containers.

The educational center was built with a strong emphasis on the educational aspect of the program: it also provides prayer rooms, workshops, social areas, dining halls and a library for the children.

Skateistan Mazar-e-Sharif (MeS) Facility

9 of 11

The educational center was built with a strong emphasis on the educational aspect of the program: it also provides prayer rooms, workshops, social areas, dining halls and a library for the children.

In Afghanistan and other places with high levels of poverty and social dislocation, ambitious projects like Skateistan Mazar-e-Sharif can reconfigure future educational programs for at-risk youth in addition to repurposing military style buildings for peaceful purposes that actively work to serve the local community.

Skateistan Mazar-e-Sharif (MeS) Facility

10 of 11

In Afghanistan and other places with high levels of poverty and social dislocation, ambitious projects like Skateistan Mazar-e-Sharif can reconfigure future educational programs for at-risk youth in addition to repurposing military style buildings for peaceful purposes that actively work to serve the local community.

Skateboarding was the best option for the program because Afghanistan law prohibits girls from riding bikes, but curiously enough, they are permitted to ride skateboards.

Skateistan Mazar-e-Sharif (MeS) Facility

11 of 11

Skateboarding was the best option for the program because Afghanistan law prohibits girls from riding bikes, but curiously enough, they are permitted to ride skateboards.